SUMATERA SELATAN

English South Sumatra propinsi (province), southern Sumatra, Indonesia, bounded by the provinces of Lampung on the south, Bengkulu on the west, and Jambi on the north; the Selat (strait) Karimata and the Java Sea are to the east. It covers an area of 40,034 sq mi (103,688 sq km) and includes Bangka, Billiton, Liat, Lepar, and Mendanan islands off the northeastern coast in the Java Sea. There is mention in Chinese chronicles of the kingdom of Kantoli (early 6th century), with its capital at Palembang. Southern Sumatra became part of the Buddhist Srivijaya Empire at Palembang that rose to power in the last quarter of the 7th century. Buddhist rule was replaced by the Hindu Majapahit Empire of eastern Java after the defeat of King Parameswara in 1377. The Majapahit Empire continued until the beginning of the 16th century. The Muslim kingdom at Palembang bore the brunt of Dutch and British attempts at colonial domination in the early 19th century. Dutch rule over that state was firmly established in 1823. The Japanese occupied the province during World War II. It became part of the Republic of Indonesia in 1950. The Banjaran (mountains) Bengkulen, a portion of the Pegunungan (mountains) Barisan, extend along the western border of Sumatera Selatan and are surmounted by volcanic cones with an average height of 8,000 ft (2,400 m), including Gunung (mount) Dempo (10,364 ft) and Gunung Resagi (7,323 ft). The highlands descend rapidly to a wide plain that is separated from the northeastern coast by a belt of swamps as much as 150 mi (240 km) wide. Sluggish and swollen rivers, including the Air (river) Musi, Air Komering, and Air Ogan, have brought down huge quantities of eroded materials from the western highlands to form the freshwater and tidal swamps that open out into estuaries along the coast. The low-lying central plains are largely covered with swamp forests, and the seaward margins have mangrove swamps. The mountains are forested with oak, laurel, fern, conifers, and teak. Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy, and the main products include rubber, timber, coffee, tea, resin, spices, cinchona bark, rattan, pepper, corn (maize), and soybeans. Fruits and vegetables are also grown. Industries produce processed food, beverages, processed tobacco, textiles, carved wood and furniture, paper, leather and rubber goods, chemicals, nonmetallic mineral products, metal goods, machinery, and electrical and transport equipment. A chemical fertilizer plant and oil refineries are located at Palembang, the provincial capital. Roads and the railway are located principally on the central lowlands and along the foot of the Bengkulen mountains and link Baturaja, Perabumulih, Muaraenim, Lahat, and Lubuk Linggau with Palembang. The population is made up of Minangkabau, Batak, Redjong-Lampong, Bantamese and Javanese peoples. There are also a few Indians and Chinese. Pop. (1980) 4,629,801.